The Christ

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

All who are born of God believe that Jesus is THE CHRIST! The title “The Christ” signifies “anointed” and includes all the offices of the Son of God.

To believe Him to be the Christ is to believe Him to be that Prophet which Moses said should come, who has declared the whole mind and will of the Father. It is to believe He is that Priest that should arise after the order of Melchizedek and make atonement for sin and intercede for transgressors. It is to believe that He is that King whom the Father has set over ALL THINGS!

This faith is not a mere assent to the facts nor the knowledge which devils have, but it is a HEART FAITH and LOVE FOR HIM and His glory. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1986)

WHAT DO I DO NOW?

What do I do when I am under severe trial, enduring pain of body and mind, and am full of fear? What do I do when dying seems to be easier than living with the circumstances the Lord has given me? The answer for the believer is simple: do the same things you do when the Lord blesses you: worship publicly, pray, and read God’s Word.

What do I do when I don’t understand what God is doing or how He could possibly bring good out of my painful situation? Go to the house of the Lord in the public worship service just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” (Psalm 73:16-17) What do I do when I am so full of fear? Trust the Lord just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56:3) What do I do when I feel hopeless and helpless? Look to Christ just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” (Psalm 121:1) What do I do when I don’t think I have the strength to endure for one more minute? Trust the Lord to be your strength. “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.” (Ezek. 34:16)

No matter what our circumstances may be at the moment, let us say with David, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)

Pastor Frank Tate

OWNING OUR SINFULNESS AND BEHAVIOR

One of the most impossible things for anyone to do is to completely own their sinfulness and behavior without blaming someone or something else. It takes the power of God Almighty to bring a sinner to the place where he/she says, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” (Psalm 51:4). This is a work of God. O that Almighty God would be pleased to bring us to this place. Pastor John Chapman

EVEN AS GOD HATH

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

The love of Christ constrains us. God’s lovingkindness in Christ to sinners like us constrains us to be kind one to another. God’s compassion on such sinners as we are makes us tenderhearted toward brethren. We are constrained to forgive the very worst offenses of our brethren, “even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” God does not continue to dwell on our past sins, he remembers them no more. Forgiveness involves love: it is giving an offending brother a clean slate to move forward as we strive to love them. Sometimes it is near impossible to forgive and go on loving them. But if for no other reason, “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.” Pastor Clay Curtis

Transgression Passed By

The Lord God passes by the transgression of his elect, because, “he delighteth in mercy.”There is an elect remnant among the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, chosen of God unto eternal life, whose sins were put away by the sacrifice of Christ, “a remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5). Having put away their transgression by the sacrifice of his Son, God passes by it, taking no notice of it, as if he did not see it, because he does not see it (Numbers 23:21). Therefore, he will never impute sin to his people, nor call them into account for it (Romans 4:8). Through the blood of Christ, it is covered, atoned, blotted out and washed away.